A food adventure.

This evening Jim & Mary took us to a new restaurant in Rockland, Me Lon Togo which features the cuisine of West Africa, specifically Togo. It is located in a old house, and it was great - not crowded, relatively quiet, nicely paced service - and best of all, delicious food. It was a four-course meal. You could choose between two appetizers, and among many entrees. Salad and dessert were fixed. It took us three hours to eat the entire meal. The portions, however, were very reasonable, so I do not feel stuffed. Ellen and I shared these two appetizers: Dje & Amada: Sweet potato and plantain cooked in a sauce made with tomato, onion, apple cider vinegar, and cayenne pepper. Garu Fotu: Manioc grits, smoked ground shrimp, and fried egg cooked in a sauce made of reduced tomato purée and a west african blend of herbs and spices We all had this salad: Mé Lon Togo Salad: Chickpeas, hard-boiled egg, tomato, peas, red onion, salt, pepper, olive oil, and apple cider vinegar. For entree, Ellen had Azi Dessi: Tender chicken served with sauce made from fresh hand-ground peanuts, tomato, onion, garlic, ginger, anise seed, and cayenne pepper, served over white rice. Jim had Deku Dessi: Beef, Chicken, or West African aubergene, cooked in a West African blend of herbs and spices, and red palm nut, which has a flavor similar to curry spice. Mary had West African Jollof Rice: Chicken, beef, shrimp, and rice cooked in a rich, tomato based sauce with a flavorful blend of savory herbs and spices. I had Moroccan Tagine chicken: Tender, bone-in chicken stewed in a blend of garlic, onion, green olives, cilantro, parsley, paprika, cumin, ginger, turmeric, cinnamon, black pepper, and raisins, served over saffron couscous. For dessert we had Tapioca Pudding: West African tapioca pudding cooked in a lemongrass broth with your choice of vanilla or chocolate ice cream. Mary and I had vanilla, Jim and Ellen had chocolate. It was all really good. My dish was very flavorful, the chicken was incredibly tender, and there was a little surprise not in the menu: roasted whole almonds. Here are some photos from dessert time:

Finished!

A bit ago, I finshed reading Capote, a biography by Gerald Clarke. It is a 560-page book, so this is no mean accomplishment. I really have ripped through it - it falls into the "I couldn't put it down" category. This despite the fact that the last hundred pages or so - Truman Capote's final years - were very painful reading. I mentioned in an earlier blog post that after the publication of his finest work, In Cold Blood, his life went downhill. Well, I had no idea. In Cold Blood came out in 1966. He lived another 18 years. He accomplished some things during the next nine years or so, and there were days, maybe even weeks, when one could say that he enjoyed his life. But October, 1975, was a real turning-point. That was when a chapter of what he regarded as his true magnum opus, a book that he had titled Answered Prayers, a work he fervently believed would place him alongside Proust in the Olympiad of writers, was published in Esquire magazine. It was called La Cote Basque, 1965. In it, a society grand dame given the name "Lady Coolbirth," regales those at her table in a chic Manhattan restaurant named in the title, with an endless stream of very steamy gossip. It is spellbinding in the story, and it was spellbinding to the readers of Esquire. But not all readers. Some of them recognized themselves in the gossip. Truman Capote had packed into this story very intimate secrets of the lives of the rich and famous that had been shared with him in confidence, but were now revealed to the public. Even if the characters had been fictionalized, it was not difficult to identify the real culprits. Capote's high society friends, people like Bill and Babe Paley, Lee Radziwell and her sister, Jackie Kennedy, Gloria Vanderbilt, etc. - the list is long - were outraged and unforgiving. They had been betrayed. After that, Capote was ostracized, shunned, persecuted, even in some cases physically abused. Meanwhile, he was drinking way too much, popping scores of various drugs, dealing with one health crisis after another, constantly moving, making highly inappropriate sexual liaisons, eventually going in and out of treatments centers and hospitals with increasing frequency - it is unbelievable. He is unable to write; he never finishes Answered Prayers. He is increasingly alone and miserable. It does NOT leave one with a desire to be a great writer!

Aristotle Onassis and Jackie Kennedy outside La Cote Basque.

We're in Maine!

We just drove over to Maine today! We're visiting Jim and Mary and will be here until Friday. The drive was beautiful - the color is fantastic. We stopped at Bob's Clam Hut, were disappointed that they were out of fish chowder, but got a basket of haddock, a small onion rings and two servings of cole slaw, which proved to be more food than we could eat!

Bob's Clam Hut. ********************************** We made a quick stop at When Pigs Fly bread outlet, and then made good time up to Owl's Head, getting here a little after 5p.m. Last evening, we went to a little concert Andy Davis did with a friend, Martha Burns. It was held at a place called Rebop Farm, which is located on Sunset Lake Road, about 2 1/2 miles from the Chelsea Diner. The odd thing was that there were only about 7 people there, besides the musicians. In fact, when we arrived, we were the only ones there. But it was a very nice concert - Andy sang all songs that he had written, many of which we had never heard before. And Martha Burns had a perfect voice for her repertoire, and played a nice guitar. The building we were in also housed the farm store, which had a very interesting selection of food, both fresh and frozen. Things like spelt flour, which you can't find just anywhere.

The building where the concert was held.

Martha Burns and Andy Davis.

The small audience at the concert.

A perfect day?

Today would be hard to surpass! It was a kind of perfection. We got up at a good hour - for me, about 7:15a.m. - and I fixed a good breakfast for myself and we went off to church, to sing in the choir. We got there just a bit early - already a good sign - and Ellen had a chance, before choir rehearsal, to check out the books left from the book sale yesterday to see if she wanted anything. The sale was unexpectedly successful -it brought in over $1200, quite a bit more than last year. But there were still a lot of books left. She decided to pack up a few boxes to store for next year's sale. We sang two good anthems - Welcome Holy Spirit, and I Want to Thank You, Lord, and had another powerful service in which a lay member of the congregation "shared a sacred story." This is a part of a series that is going on this fall called "Faces of our Faith: Bold and Untold Stories." People are volunteering to tell a story coming from their personal "faith journey." Last week it was Fred Breunig, this week Rob Harnish. Both told stories coming from a moment of crisis in their lives in which they experienced a powerful sense of the presence of God. In Fred's case, the moment when he learned that his wife was diagnosed with cancer, and in Rob's case, the moment he learned his young daughter had a rare and serious illness. Both spoke very simply and humbly, but winsomely, about their experience.

Fred Breunig

Rob Harnish*************************************** We also had the first "in-person" coffee hour after church since the beginning of the pandemic -2 1/2 years or more - and that was very satisfying - being able to see and talk with people again. After church we had time to go to the Chelsea Royale Diner for breakfast - that is fairly new too - they have not been open for breakfast after noon on a Sunday for some time. I had a wonderful "Vermont Omelette" (cheddar cheese, bacon and scallions) with hash-browns and cinnamon-raisin toast). That was a real treat! Then we drove up to Marlboro for a concert of the Blanche Moyse Chorale singing Brahms' "German Requiem." What could be more wonderful than that? It is true that in earlier years, I would have been singing in the Chorale myself, and it is a little sad not to be singing in it now, but that has been true for several years now, and I have pretty much come to terms with it. So it was wonderful just to be there. The drive up to Marlboro was very beautiful because the color is close to being at its peak this week. And I had a chance to speak to some old friends after the concert whom I have not seen for quite a while. Then afterward, we went right by Ann Janeway's driveway, so we spontaneously decided to stop and see her. She was thrilled and we also found Diane and Elliot Freeman there, who had made the same decision - they had also been at the concert. So we brought some cheer there, and had another lovely visit. While there, Ann showed me a montage of photos of the "women's group" (made in 1992 - 30 years ago) that she, Diane, and Shirley had been a part of, along with three others, before Shirley died, and I was able to make a copy of it with my phone. That was special. Then we drove down Ames Hill Road - another beautiful foliage drive - to the Guilford Church again, this time to pick up the flowers Ellen had supplied the church with this morning. We got home in time to hear our favorite radio programs - "Says You" -a very entertaining word game program, and "All the Traditions," a folk-music program we love. For supper, Ellen fixed me a fantastic bacon/lettuce and tomato sandwich, made with a fresh garden tomato Mark Kennedy had left when they visited last week, and after supper, I worked on "Spelling Bee" while we listened to the radio. Now what could be more perfect than all that?

The Blanche Moyse Chorale performing the Brahms Requiem.. It was accompanied by piano today, not orchestra. They also performed Brahms' Nänie today.

The "women's group" - Clockwise from upper left: Ann Janeway, Lise Sparrow, Diane Larsen-Freeman, Connie Woodbury, Elizabeth Christie, Shirley in the center. This group still meets every year at Shirley's grave. They did so just a couple of weeks ago.

Some foliage scenes today.

A visit with Katie and Savanna

We had not seen Katie & Savanna for over six weeks. Actually the last mention of them in the calendar is July 18th! That's hard to believe. It didn't feel as though we had been away that long. But in any case, we saw them yesterday - we went to Shutesbury, had tea and scones (made both by Ellen and Katie), and tea sandwiches, and had a good visit. Savanna is doing very well, which was great to see. They had a fire going in the living room stove, which felt good - it was a lovely day, but chilly. The drive down and back was quite lovely because there is more fall foliage in Massachusetts than in Vermont right now. Which is odd - it usually comes earlier in the more northern areas. Our scones and sandwiches didn't quite add up to supper, so we stopped at Frontier Pizza and got a small pizza, and each had two pieces in the car. We ate the rest for lunch today. For the past several days I have been reading aloud from Brian McLaren's book, Should I Stay Christian?. It is a compelling book - Richard Rohr said (on the cover) that he "couldn't stop reading it," and I can see why - it carries you right along. It is divided into 3 parts: (1) Reasons why one should answer "No!" to the question in the title. (2) Reasons why one should answer "Yes!" and (3) How one should live regardless of what one decides. McLaren is pouring his heart into this book. The question in very exisential for him - not just a catchy title. And it seems to be an existential question for many whom he encounters in his day-to-day life and work. I would say it is a "must-read" for anyone who says they are a Christian.

Brian McLaren

\ Color on our drive

Good pizza!

Mark and Cathy

Mark Kennedy and Cathy Rude, plus Mark's parents, all came by yesterday late in the afternoon and we had a lovely supper on the deck. Mark & Cathy brought canteloupe, cukes and tomatoes from their garden, and Ellen made black bean chile, and corn bread, plus a blueberry pie! A lovely supper. Mark and Cathy live in South Hero, VT and were on their way south to visit family in Connecticut. They often stop to see us on their way through. I first met Mark at a Vermont Conference Annual Meeting back in the year after Shirley died, and we became friends. I was almost a part of his family back then - helping him through a difficult time. We always enjoy seeing them. However, I totally forgot to take pictures! But here is a photo of Mark & Cathy from an earlier visit:

Mark Kennedy and Cathy Rude.

Arthur and Emma

Ellen and I ventured out yesterday afternoon to the first social event we have attended for some time - the wedding of Arthur Davis and Emma Schneider, which was held at the Dummerston Center Grange. Arthur is the son of our dear friends, Andy and Robin Davis. I have a long connection with this family - Shirley and I married Andy and Robin 31 years ago - and the "reception" after that wedding took place in the same spot - the Dummerston Grange and the Commons across the road. Arthur was baptized by Shirley (11/29/1992) and he grew up in the Guilford Church. Arthur figures in a wonderful children's story, told by his dad, Andy, about the awe which struck Arthur when, as a three-year-old, he encountered a giant sculpture of two whale's tails up off I-91 in central Vermont.

Andy holding up a picture of Arthur looking at the awesome whale's tails.********************************* Arthur has grown up into the loveliest young man you would ever want to meet, and Emma seems to be the perfect life partner. They have been a couple for some time, and have been living together in a house they bought in Brattleboro for a couple years or so, and I think wanted to get married earlier, but the COVID pandemic delayed that. Yesterday they finally were able to make it official. COVID was a reality still, however. Ellen finally tested negative yesterday morning, but I was still positive, so we kept apart from others. There is a balcony at the Grange which is quite separate from the main floor - so we went up there - and low and behold, there were Peter and Mary Alice Amidon, who also have COVID! Sort of our own little leper colony up there. After the wedding we did sit out on the green to see the Morris Dancing (Arthur is a Morris Dancer) and we talked a bit with a couple of friends = masked, outside, and distanced - that felt okay. We did not stay for supper. It was a lovely wedding, and we were very happy to be there.

Our vantage-point up in the balcony.

A group of Arthur and Emma's friends singing the song, "All the Salt" by Jess Arrowsmith.

Arthur and Emma exchanging vows.

Processing out at the end of the service.

Morris Dancers on the Dummerston Green.

The guests enjoying refreshments and signing the wedding contract on the green.